The Reds were back at Eastlands once more, and the night started with some big, but unsettling rumours that Javier Mascherano had refused to play against Man City. It has been confirmed, since then, that he “was not in the right frame of mind to play”.
This same fixture last year resulted in Liverpool and City playing out a very dull 0-0 draw – but this time it wasn’t the case, as Man City proved their Premier League mettle by beating Liverpool by three goals to nil.
Liverpool started on the front foot, retaining possession and creating attacks, but unfortunately the closest they went in that spell of dominance was Torres being crowded out in the City box when attempting to strike for goal.
City stepped up a gear after the early warning shot by Liverpool and soon began to run the game in midfield. On 13 minutes, they got the goal they wanted when Milner put Johnson through, and the England international pulled it back for Gareth Barry to hit home. Lax defending by Liverpool, and Agger in particular.
It was really all City from then onwards in the first-half, with Gareth Barry and Adam Johnson trying shots from distance, but never troubling Reina.
Whenever Liverpool did get possession, the Reds could never do anything with it – with Kuyt, Johnson and Lucas in particular giving the ball away countless times whilst trying to find a red shirt.
Liverpool’s first shot-on-target came on the 35th minute, when N’Gog was played in by Torres to the right of the box. The Frenchman took a shot, but it was never going to trouble Hart who easily gathered.
Man City were unfortunate not to be 2-0 up from a corner that Micah Richards narrowly headed wide – it was yet another let-off for Liverpool, and you wondered how many let-offs they’d need before actually playing some football.
Half-time quickly approached after a dominant City schooled Liverpool in the first-half. Liverpool needed to improve, and improve quickly.
The second-half did start quite well for Liverpool, with the Reds able to retain possession and mount some good, sustained attacks on the City back-line, although it was unfortunate that nothing came of the attacks.
City eventually went 2-0 up through a Milner corner, which Micah Richards headed down and Tevez poked through the legs of Reina. Liverpool needed something, or someone magic now.
Gerrard was almost that person when Liverpool were on the attack yet again – the ball dropped at his feet no less than four times, and each time he took a shot and went close, and it eventually deflected out for a corner which resulted in nothing.
Liverpool tried to keep the pressure on City and almost got a goal back when Hart made a fabulous stop from N’Gog, and when Torres followed up with the rebound, Hart also managed, somehow, to stop that. Liverpool were unlucky not to have clawed back a goal that could have changed the match.
City were rampant though, and eventually had a penalty given their way when Agger lost Johnson, and Skrtel tried to make up for that by lunging in on the England international. Tevez buried it into the bottom left-hand corner of Reina’s goal. Liverpool looked utterly deflated now.
Even with Liverpool bringing on Babel and Pacheco for Torres an Jovanovic in the latter stages, all they could muster was a single shot-on-goal by Babel which was easily saved by Hart.
The final whistle couldn’t approach quickly enough. When it did the scoreline proved that Liverpool, for once, were outclassed.
City were as good as the Reds were bad tonight.
good luck liverpool fc
and to torres you my hero!!
well,well,another long season of defeats and draws, i hope not! i really cannot take this,its really messing my day and livelihood,please do something about that defense,pathetic it is.
and digger i slightly can start to see what u meant with jova… i still believe he can turn out to be a enrichment for us, and watching him play city i think he had his good moments BUT… what i have seen too is a lot of playing around in midfield and slow mind switching, not just in regular situations but in counterattacks! for example when he tried to curl around i believe it was kolo, instead of back heeling the ball into the run of gerrard, who was obviously running for a good attack…
after this game it is obvious that roy hasn’t been in charge of a big club yet.
what in the bloody hell has he been thinking at a lineup like that?! and watching
him on the bench was just disgusting! sitting there for the most of the time and if he was standing he acted to quiet! im starting to doubt that he has the right temper to lead our beloved club to success… and a big disappointment that i witnessed were supporters that havent get louder since last season which i find a disgrace! YNWA!
What are we going to do?
I’m afraid that Liverpool FC is heading toward the south pole. With no style, no fund, no believed, no desire, no control, etc….
If we still playing in this way , we will be a mid table team. GOOD LUCK to Liverpool Fc.
I dont know what to say!!! Within the 1st 10 mins of the match i knew we were gonna be beaten, the team looked as if they didnt want to even be there, if we are going to have that effort all season i think i’ll be hanging my shirts back in the wardrobe, where they will stay until we can actually acheive something to be proud of once again. Come on liverpool do u want the title or what?
The grass always looks greener on the other side so it’s easy for many to believe that sacking Rafa was a crime even though we finished seventh!.
Problem is that we still have not solved two major issues from last season that is buying a top forward and winger.There was an obvious lack of width whilst Ngog is nothing but a rookie forward who wouldn’t make the second team subs bench of Arsenal,Man U and Chelsea.
Man City can buy our entire team with millions leftover so we need investment!
“Stick Gerrard back in centre midfield” they said, “play with two strikers”. “We need an English manager they said”. Well we’ve got all these and we still got pasted! The most telling thing about last night for Liverpool football club was the small pocket of fans that chanted Rafa Benitez’s name at 3 nil down. they What do you expect though from a manager that won a manager of the year award despite winning only one game on the road.
really really i canot accept this ugly game my love for you is wearing thinn LIverpool i hope you`ll be better next games see you theree